Pictured: Carlisle United promotion and Wembley star returns

And Owen Archdeacon was back on familiar ground when he returned to Brunton Park this week.

Carlisle United's former left wing-back, who starred in the 1996/97 season, was a special guest at Tuesday's game between the Blues and another of his former clubs, Barnsley.

Archdeacon, now 58, was a guest in Brunton Park's bars and lounges before the game, and at half-time in the 3-2 defeat he came onto the pitch to perform the Golden Gamble draw.

His appearance brought back memories of a successful period at Carlisle in the 1990s.

Archdeacon was a pivotal player for United in the 1996/97 promotion and Wembley season (Image: News & Star)

The former Celtic man joined United from Barnsley in the summer of 1996 following the Blues' relegation to the fourth tier.

He went on to become a pivotal figure in Mervyn Day's team as the manager utilised a new wing-back system.

Archdeacon was also a consistent provider of goals and scored six in the league, two in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup in 1996/97 - among them a memorable winner against second-tier Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup.

He also chipped in crucially during the Blues' run to Wembley in the Auto-Windscreens Shield.

His four goals in that run included two in the northern final first leg 2-0 victory over Stockport County which ultimately earned United a place in the final.

Archdeacon played for Tuesday's opposition club Barnsley before joining the Blues in 1996 (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Archdeacon went on to have a penalty saved in the shoot-out against Colchester United under the Twin Towers but Carlisle came out on top to win at the national stadium for the first time.

The Greenock-born player was an ever-present as Day's side bounced back to promotion from Division Three in third place. He started the following third-tier campaign in the Blues side and had made 58 league appearances in total for the Cumbrians before his departure to Morton in November 1997.